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MECHELLE EVELYN JANE KELLY sentenced for dragging her dog behind her car

- Ohio, USA -


On Thursday, January 5, 2023, in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, Judge John Durkin sentenced 56-years-old MECHELLE EVELYN JANE KELLY (pictured) to 30 days in jail and two years of probation for dragging her defenseless dog behind her car.

KELLY is being credited for one day already served on a fifth-degree felony charge of cruelty to companion animals.


On May 29, 2022, a motorist saw KELLY driving a car on Jacobs Road, on Youngstown’s East Side, and noticed that behind the vehicle was a dog who was tethered to the bumper and was being dragged along. KELLY then chained up her dog in her backyard. Thankfully, the motorist took pictures of the dog and KELLY and after alerting the authorities, the Youngstown Police Department and Animal Charity of Ohio responded to the scene.


The furbaby named Oreo who at the time was 18 months old, suffered severe burns to her paws, road rash, broken toes, lost almost all her nails, cuts on her legs and stomach, and left blood and skin on the pavement.


Humane agents with the Animal Charity of Ohio said Oreo was dragged for about 100 yards while the vehicle was going around 35 miles per hour.

Reportedly, when officials asked KELLY why she had dragged her dog, she said she punished her for breaking loose from her chain.


On June 16, 2022, KELLY was indicted on a charge of cruelty to companion animals, a fifth-degree felony. She pleaded guilty to the charge on November 11, 2022.


On Thursday, at the sentencing hearing, Animal Charity of Ohio humane agent Jessica MacMurchy described the injuries that Oreo suffered and while showing the pictures to Judge Durkin, she inevitably became very emotional, her hands were shaking, and had to pause a few times. “This one was upsetting,” she told the judge.

Ms. MacMurchy explained to Judge Durkin that when she arrived at the scene, Oreo could not stand on her own. She then rightfully said that all KELLY had to do was put Oreo in the car.


A tearful KELLY then told Judge Durkin: “I am so sorry. I would never hurt dogs. I love dogs.”

Judge Durkin told her he didn’t care how fast she was driving. “You drove fast enough and far enough to cause these injuries,” he said.


When Judge Durkin expressed his perplexity as to why KELLY didn’t just pick up the dog and put her in the car, KELLY said she couldn’t because of a medical condition.

However, the judge said KELLY should have waited for help. “Somehow, someway, you should have put the dog in your car,” he said.


Oreo has recovered from her injuries and has been adopted.


KELLY must continue mental health counseling as part of her probation when she is released from jail.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




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CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL TRUITT ridiculously sentenced in a case where he murdered a kitten

- Maryland, USA -


On September 1, 2022, 26-years-old CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL TRUITT (pictured), was ridiculously sentenced in connection with the murder of an innocent and defenseless kitten in 2021.


I will leave the specifics of the sentence for the end, and I am going to start with what TRUITT did.


On December 16, 2021, the Wicomico County Humane Society received a report about an abandoned box on Dixon Road, Salisbury, with a deceased kitten inside.

Director Kim Nock responded to the scene and inside the box, she found a black 6-month-old kitten named Ember.


According to a press release by the Office of the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County, Ember had been recently adopted by TRUITT from the Worcester County Humane Society.

Ember was microchipped and this made possible the identification of TRUITT.


A necropsy performed by the Wicomico Humane Society “revealed Ember's cause of death to be both blunt force trauma and strangulation”, stated the release. The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office conducted and extensive investigation and identified TRUITT “as the person who caused the injuries and ultimately killed Ember.”


TRUITT was convicted of one count of felony animal cruelty and two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. For Ember’s murder, the (dis)honorable judge David B. Martz found TRUITT guilty following trial and sentenced him to 180 days in jail with all but 60 days suspended TO BE SERVED ON HOUSE ARREST!

TRUITT was placed on three years of supervised probation and given a $300 fine.

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County said that “As a special condition of his sentence, Truitt will be prohibited from owning, possessing, or residing with animals for a period of five years.”


First of all, I firmly believe that prohibiting an animal abuser from owning, possessing, or residing with animals should be included in every sentence and NOT be a special condition!


Secondly, a lifetime ban should be also applied with every sentence!


Thirdly, here is another judge who had a great opportunity to send a clear message that animal cruelty is not tolerated but instead he failed the VOICELESS VICTIM and undermined the efforts of all those who worked to bring this case to court!


I have emailed the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office and requested a picture of Ember.

Should I receive it, I will add it to the article.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.






 
 
 

SHAYNA FAYE BURKO arrested after dead and malnourished dogs found in a Vanderburgh County home

Updated: Jul 3, 2023

- Indiana, USA -


~ Update: July 3, 2023


Another animal abuser gets away with animal cruelty.


As many of you remember, SHAYNA FAYE BURKO (pictured) was arrested in July 2022, after officers with the Vanderburgh County Sherriff’s Office and Vanderburgh County Animal Control found dead dogs and live dogs, in horrific condition, at a home in Evansville.

She was released after posting a meager $500 bond!


This past May this evil female pleaded guilty to seven felony-level counts of cruelty to an animal.


On June 29, 2023, BURKO was generously sentenced to PROBATION, courtesy of Vanderburgh Circuit Court RYAN CHARLES REED!


Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers said in a news release that at sentencing the Prosecution alerted the court that BURKO “is in violation of the conditions of her bail, which included a prohibition from animal possession, by giving evidence that she is currently living with animals.”

The release goes on to say that BURKO’s grandmother testified at sentencing that BURKO has a puppy who is a “service dog.”


Whether you believe it or not, a part of the court’s sentencing order is that BURKO “is permitted to live with animals as long as they do not belong to her and that she is permitted keep her purported service dog.”


Prosecutor Moers stated: “The Defendant’s horrific actions are absolutely shocking to the conscience. What is more, this is not her first time and the evidence today from both the prosecution and the defense was that she still has access to animals despite the court previously ordering her not to. I am happy to report that we requested the maximum executed sentence today of four years, noting prior criminal history of the same nature, violation of conditions of bail and the egregiousness of the crime itself. The court found none of those statutorily aggravating circumstances applied and sentenced the Defendant to two years of probation.”



~ Update: May 19, 2023


The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office announced that on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court SHAYNA FAYE BURKO (pictured), pleaded guilty to “seven felony-level counts of cruelty to an animal before Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed.”


In July 2022, BURKO was arrested after deceased and extremely malnourished dogs were found inside her property. She was released after posting a ridiculous $500 bond!


Prosecutor Diana Moers stated: “Those who abuse or neglect some of the most innocent in our society—animals—will be investigated and face harsh legal consequences. Here, these innocent and completely helpless dogs were counting on the Defendant to take care of them but she left them to suffer and die while she carried on with her own life. I am thankful for the citizen heroes who called the police in this case as well as animal control and the deputies who were able to remove the remaining living dogs from this house of horrors and bring them to safety. It is my prayer that these dogs find loving homes and healing.”


Well, BURKO has a date with Judge Ryan C. Reed in Vanderburgh Circuit Court on June 29, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. for sentencing. Let’s see how “harsh” her legal consequences will be!


Let me remind you that BURKO has a prior conviction in Warrick County for Cruelty to an Animal.




~ Original story:


The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 27-years-old SHAYNA FAYE BURKO (pictured).


In a press release the sheriff’s office said that on the morning of Saturday, July 9, 2022, deputies along with Vanderburgh County Animal Control were dispatched to a home on 3122 Mooring Road to conduct a welfare check on the animals who were living at the property.


The sheriff’s office said the animals “had been left unattended for a prolonged period of time.”

From outside, deputies could smell a foul odor of something rotting inside the home and when they peered through a window, “they could visibly see excess amounts of feces, urine, and trash on the floor of the home” stated the release.


Officials also saw several dogs who were inside who appeared “malnourished, in distress, and lethargic.”

A search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence and Animal Control removed five dogs who were found to be living covered with fleas and feces.


Officers found "a deceased German Shepard inside a closed kennel and a detached head of a dog both found in the living room. In the hallway, officers found a detached dog limb. There were five living dogs inside the residence, and one of them was missing a paw different from the limb found in the hallway."


From witnesses on the scene, officials learned that BURKO “had not been to the house for several weeks.”

Deputies were able to locate BURKO with the assistance of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office and took her into custody.


When BURKO was interviewed, she admitted that she was aware the dogs were there and that she failed to care for them.


According to the sheriff’s office “there is also a second person of interest under investigation.”


BURKO was released from the Vanderburgh County Jail after posting a meager $500 bond, but that’s not all that infuriates me!

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office said in the press release that the female “has a prior conviction in Warrick County for Cruelty to an Animal.”

As I always say, animal abusers are toxic and toxic people do not change, they only change their victims.

The law will continue to allow scum like BURKO to take innocent lives because they do not experience the identical suffering inflicted on the VOICELESS VICTIMS.

Lawmakers, you do realize that the death of these dogs is on you!?


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.




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